Area History: Diary of John Stoner Beidler, 1868A: York County, PA Contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by Chuck Wilcox. cdwilcox@keynet.net USGENWEB NOTICE: Printing this file by non-commercial individuals and libraries is encouraged, as long as all notices and submitter information is included. Any other use, including copying files to other sites requires permission from the submitters PRIOR to uploading to any other sites. We encourage links to the state and county table of contents. ____________________________________________________________ This material is available in html format with pictures at http://www.keynet.net/~cdwilcox/ John Stoner Beidler 1868 Diary commenced & kept by John Beidler at Wrightsville, Jan 1st 1868. I am now 31 years of age, or on the 10th of February next, 32. My object and intention of keeping this diary is to note down every day all transpiring incidents, the state of the weather, where I was & how employed & c. It is also my intention (as time moves on) in this work, to lay down Certain Rules and Advice to my children, which I sincerely hope and pray they will follow and improve when I am gone, if I should die before them. The first day of this year I have spent partly in York & Baltimore. The Revt. Mr. Lane, John Stoner & myself left home on the 30 of Dec. to see some farms that we heard were for sale at Long Green in Baltimore Co., Maryland. We arrived at Baltimore about noon, proceeded to the Sun printing office and took the Stage there at 3 o'clock for Long Green. Stayed all night with a Mr. Rankin, with whom Mr. Lane was intimately acquainted. Next morning we went to see certain farms that were for sale, but they not proving to be in as good conditions as recommended---not coming up to our views of first class farms. Stoner & myself left and came to Baltimore in the evening of the 31st of December, where we seen the old year go out and the new come in. The ending of the old year left us about two inches of snow, which fell the eve before New Year and which the New Year was sprinkling with hail and rain from its commencement till about noon on New Year's Day, when it cleared off and the sun shone, which made a disagreeable slush in the streets of Baltimore. Stoner left Baltimore at noon, I in afternoon. Business very dull in Baltimore. Most all stores closed and streets quiet. Bought a hood and cuffs for Mother, a Game Ball for Harry, a portmonie for Cordie, and Dan'l a pocket Bible. Got to York at seven o'clock. Stayed at Metzel's all night, where I found it very quiet for New Year's evening. The Beginning of the Year 1868 finds us burdened with a heavy war debt. Business of all kinds dull. Money scarce and stocks declining. Gold commands a premium of some thirty odd cents. WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 1, 1868 Came home this morning, found all well. Nice day above head. Not cold. Snow disappearing fast. Nancy Hivner, our Maid, and Cordie were at York today to see Mrs. Hivner's children, who are at the Orphan's home. Found them getting along fine --- and returned in evening train. Block's boat is running across the river. Not much ice running. Expect to have the furnace in blast next week. Dan'l was in today. He is not quite well. THURSDAY, JANUARY 2, 1868 Was in town all day, not doing anything. Harry was with me at the office in afternoon. Mother & Danny were at Jim Shenberger's in afternoon. Very pleasant day, clear and warm. Sued James Cameron at York for lumber bill. Business dull. Paid ten dollars towards paying Presbyterian church debt, for repairing done this winter. To judge by appearances, this would be a pleasant March day. A.S. Hiestand's still house blowed up last Tuesday, killed the engineer and badly wounded another employee. Loss about $7,000---one minute in good health with hopes of future joy & Bliss, the next Moment a mangled corpse --- Such is life. SATURDAY, JANUARY 4, 1868 Was in town all day. Dull day, nothing doing. Cloudy and a heavy fog in the morning. Harry has a bad cold. He is subject to catarrh fever, has a spell of it nearly every winter. Danny is growing fast and fat --- a sensible little fellow, very cross --- I hope he can control his passions when grown. Cloudy in evening and a heavy fog. Mrs. Levi Strickler was here in evening. Work scarce, rents and property high --- Laboring men complaining. If I had any money to spare I would put up some houses. I feel better at present than I did for some time. SUNDAY, JANUARY 5, 1868 C. C. Burg & self were at Mike Dosch's most all day. He lives at Strickler's Mill. Tolerable nice day. I came home about 7 o'clock in evening. Burg went to Hauser's. I was at Dosch's for dinner and supper. It is very quiet around the mill on Sunday when I was home, yet it was a great loafing place on Sunday. Those that used to come there when I was about 18 are now all scattered --- all left, not one in the neighborhood. It was here in the old mill that I spent many a pleasant day, hoping and living in high hopes for the future. Not in church today. MONDAY, JANUARY 6, 1868 Was in town all day. Dull & cloudy. Done nothing today except sitting in office. River nearly clear of ice. Started Harry off to school in afternoon. He don't like to go. Dan'l was in today. All tolerable well. Churches have prayer meeting and preaching this eve. TUESDAY, JANUARY 7, 1868 Was in office nearly all day. Damp, disagreeable day. Cloudy, rained a little last night. I was looking over our books. Adam Roth died today about noon. Mush ice running on the river. Very little snow or none at all, except in fence corners. Stoner at the furnace most all the time. WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 8, 1868 Was in town all day, best part in office. Cloudy, damp, disagreeable day. Nothing new, all tolerable well. The weather more like March than January. Very pleasant eve. Seen the first fire that was made in the new furnace. The whole thing was started at ten o'clock last night. A large crowd there to see it started. Everything is in successful operation now and in a few more days the iron will run and Wrightsville will have its furnace and ironmaster. The whole is a business at which a person very often gets his fingers burned or, more plainly, a hole in his pocket. THURSDAY, JANUARY 9, 1868 Getting very cold and windy. Sold several wagon loads of lumber today. Stoner was at the furnace all last night and best part of today. Adam Roth was buried today. Large funeral. Mercury down to ten in evening. Wedding party at McConkey's. Sue Whiteford got married. First cinder blast at furnace this evening. Quite a curiosity, a good many people there. Plenty of mush ice on the river about ten o'clock at night. River will have to close again. Father was in today; he was very pleasant, Mary said. I did not see him. Prayer Meeting at most of the churches. All tolerable well. Nothing new. FRIDAY, JANUARY 10, 1868 Very cold today. River full of ice. Ice running yet on the other side, this side closed. Lifted two fish nets this morning: no fish. Dave Detwiler brought me some straw for Sam. No communication with Columbia today. Ice shoved a little along this shore in the evening. Wrote a letter for the True Democrat at York. No mail from the East today. SATURDAY, JANUARY 11, 1868 Was in town all day, best part at office. Very cold rough day. Sent letter to True Democrat. Seen them casting at the furnace this eve for the first time. Quite a crowd there. Nothing doing in the way of Business. People crossed the ice at this place this afternoon. SUNDAY, JANUARY 12, 1868 Was at home all day. Cold, rough day. Mercury down to 10. Was at furnace to see them cast in eve. All tolerable well. Not in church this day. Read the Bible in eve & Sunday school books. Very cold, no snow. MONDAY, JANUARY 13, 1868 Cold, disagreeable day. Was in town all day, best part in office. Nothing new, all tolerable well. No snow, people crossing on the ice in sleighs. Dan'l was in today, did not see him. Are selling very little lumber at present. Harry is going to school. TUESDAY, JANUARY 14, 1868 Was clerking at an election held at the Wrightsville Bank, for Directors. Rec'd a dollar for services. Have been clerking at every election since the Bank started. Commenced snowing in afternoon. Cold. Harry is not well this eve. I got him some pills to take. He is complaining of headache and chills. WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 15, 1868 Was in town all day. Harry was very sick last night. Has a high fever. Was up with him best part of night. Very weak today. Had Dr. Thompson here in afternoon. Tolerable nice day. People crossing on the ice. About 3 inches of snow. THURSDAY, JANUARY 16, 1868 Was at office most all day. Nice day. Harry is not any better this morning, high fever all the time. Think it is catarrh fever again. He has had it most every winter the last four or five years. Father was in today. He drove in, brought some walnuts in and my old cradle. Dan'l is well and hearty, think he will make a stout boy. Wanted Father to buy the house of M. Gohn's and move to town, but he won't do it. FRIDAY, JANUARY 17, 1868 Was in town all day. Forenoon at the office, afternoon at home with Harry. He has not much fever today. Complains of a pain in his side. Cold day, a great many people crossing on the ice. Did not sleep much last night, up nearly all night with Harry. Dan'l was in today. Told him about Mike Gohn's house, wanted them to buy it, says it will bring too much. SATURDAY, JANUARY 18, 1868 Was in town all day, not doing much. Harry is still sick, complains of a pain in his side. Tolerable nice day. Had oysters for supper at 70 cts a quart. I don't like oysters or watermelon. Little ones are fond of them. People crossing on the ice with sleighs. SUNDAY, JANUARY 19, 1868 Was at home all day. Harry complains of a severe pain in his side. Keeps me busy best part of forenoon. Laying on painful parts bags of oats, salts & hops mixed and warmed. He was very sick last night, got hardly any sleep on a/c of pain. I was up best part of night. A very pleasant day --- clear. Not very cold. Danny is well and fat --- Was not in church today. MONDAY, JANUARY 20, 1868 Was in town all day. Harry is not much better. Sold a good deal of lumber today on wagons. Dan'l was in town. Cloudy all day. Paid ice bill to company, $4.55 cents. Company of us filled an ice house for summer use. TUESDAY, JANUARY 21, 1868 In town all day. Harry is better this morning. Rained and snowed all day. Wrote a letter to Bahn and one to Jacob H. Huber. Nothing doing. Danny is well and lively. He is a gay boy, full of fun. WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 22, 1868 In town all day. A warm, sun-shining day. Was sleeting and raining last night, this morning clear. Harry rested well last night. I think he will get better now. Sheriff was after Weltzhoffer today. Sleighs still crossing the river on the ice. THURSDAY, JANUARY 23, 1868 In town all day. Rained all day. Loadened two wagons in morning. Harry is still very weak. Slept well last night. Danny is well & hearty. A very disagreeable day, not cold. Furnace works very well. Iron counted very good. Renewed note at Bank today of $300.00. Paid on $75.00, renewed for 3 months. FRIDAY, JANUARY 24, 1868 Was in office most all day. Harry is getting better. Father was in today. Pleasant day above ground, sunshine and warm, slushy on pavements. Sold no lumber today. Was at furnace in evening. People still crossing on the ice. Mrs. Harris & Daughter were at house in evening. That is, last evening. SATURDAY, JANUARY 25, 1868 Was in town all day. Nice day. Mike Gohn property was sold today to J. C. Brubaker for $3530. Loadened two wagons today. Mr. Lane was at house. Harry is still getting better. SUNDAY, JANUARY 26, 1868 Was in town all day. Was at furnace a little while in forenoon. After, home. In church in evening. Cloudy day, not very cold. Harry is getting better. MONDAY, JANUARY 27, 1868 People still crossing on the ice. Cloudy & snowing a little, but it is too warm for snow. Was in town all day, not doing much. John Elwine paid me ten dollars that he owed me for apples sold him year before last. Owes $2.50 yet. TUESDAY, JANUARY 28, 1868 Was in office most all day. Cloudy, and snowed a little most all day. Harry is well. Nothing new. WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 29, 1868 Was in town all day. About 4 inches of snow this morning and very cold, snow drifting. Was in office best part of day. Clear but cold. All well. THURSDAY, JANUARY 30, 1868 Was out sleighing, about an hour. Drove across the river and back. Had Harry & Cordie along. Sam goes well. Very cold on the river. Clear day. Was unloading a carload of shingles in afternoon. Heard in eve that old Henry Stoner was struck with the palsy. FRIDAY, JANUARY 31, 1868 Clear day, snow melting fast. Father was in this morning. Gave Gusler Ruby 2 lb of twine to knit me two fish nets. Nothing doing. Money is tight. Times very dull. People still crossing with wagons on the ice. SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 1, 1868 Very cold this morning, but calm. Nice clear day, not very cold in Middle of day. Sleighs running, doing nothing all day. SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 2, 1868 Was in town all day. All cold day. Was at the furnace in forenoon and evening. Not in church. All tolerable well. Clear day. MONDAY, FEBRUARY 3, 1868 Was in town all day. A cold clear day. Thomas and Kate come down at noon. Lewis is a delegate at the Lutheran Synod, which is held here this week. All well, nothing new. TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 4, 1868 Drove Mary & Kate to Columbia in eve. Splendid sleighing on the ice, bad on shore. Very cold day. 13 inches of ice on the river. Mercury down to 4 this morning. Cloudy in forenoon. Mrs. Sam Kauffelt and Mrs. Jane Kerr were here this eve, besides Thomas. Was most all day in office. Think it will snow before long. Wish it would, I would like to go sleighing. WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 5, 1868 Was in office nearly all day. Wrote a letter to Bahn. Kates are still here. Snowed fast best part of day. Very cold this morning. I am practicing on the violin. Thomas went home this eve. Still snowing. THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 6, 1868 Clear this morning, not very cold. About 4 inches of snow. Good sleighing. Father was in today. Got colder in afternoon. Splendid sleighing this eve, but cold and windy. I don't feel well today. Took a dose of pills this morning. FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 7, 1868 Clear day, but very windy and cold. Too cold to go sleighing. Nothing doing. Snow drifting. Mercury below twenty. Nothing doing. SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 8, 1868 Had Harry and Cordie out sleighing today. Was out as far as the old gate. Good sleighing. Drove Mary out to Rude's. They were not at home. Clear, pleasant day. SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 9, 1868 Was out home today, walked out. Rained nearly all day. Very bad walking. Snow drifted, city roads impassible. All well at home. Christ Dosch, Jr. was here last night. MONDAY, FEBRUARY 10, 1868 Was in town all day. Father was in today. Clear, cold day, very icy on the streets. Good sleighing. I am thirty-two years old today. Had two drinks of Beer today and bought myself a pair of pants. Nothing else of any importance. No party, no drink and no frolic. Feel tolerable well. TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 11, 1868 Was butchering today, killed one hog. Reiman butchered. A splendid day to butcher, clear and cold. Could get no hog in from old folks on a/c of snow drifted in roads. Mr. Lane was here for dinner. Also Mrs. C. Dosch and two daughters, came a little before dinner. Christ is out West at present. Intends to move out if he can suit himself. Fifteen inches of ice on the river. Teams crossing over, hauling oats. Ice very solid. WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 12, 1868 Nice pleasant day. Loadened a car for old Getz today. Mary Wilson & Miss Small came today, were here for supper. Mrs. Dosch here at same time. She went to (family surname) after they came. Girls intended to stay a few days. Mary Wilson & Miss Small were in Methodist church in eve. Sixteen inches of ice on the river. THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 13, 1868 Very pleasant in forenoon, warm. Snow disappearing fast. Father was in today. Mary Wilson & Miss Small still here. Had a kind of party for them in the evening. Had cakes, ice cream and wine. Mr. McConkey daughter & cousin were here. I, Miss Small, Agnes Thompson, Sue Bahn and Annie More, Cal Budding, John Heppenstall, Thom Wilson and Frank Magee. Very pleasant evening. Got to bed at one o'clock. Charlotte Dosch and children and Mary Wilson and Miss Small were here all night. Mrs. George Harris was here in evening too. FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 14, 1868 Very pleasant morning, clear and not very cold. Mrs. Dosch went home this morning. In town all day. Mary Wilson and French Small were down at McConkey's. Danny has a bad cold. Nothing new. Sleighing very bad. SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 15, 1868 Was in town all day. Not cold. Cloudy best part of day. Gusler Ruby brought me three nets, cost me $1.40 apiece. All well. Mary Wilson & French Small are here yet. SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 16, 1868 Was in town all day, in forenoon at the furnace, afternoon at home, in eve at church. Cloudy day and cold in forenoon. MONDAY, FEBRUARY 17, 1868 Was out home today. Helped to butcher. Killed four hogs, small ones. Disagreeable day, snowed best part of day. C. Hostetler & John Heppenstall were here in eve to see Mary Wilson & French Small. Left about ten o'clock. TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 18, 1868 Was in town all day, not doing anything. Not very cold today. Cordie has a sore throat. Father was over the river at a sale today. Mary Wilson and French Small were at Detwilers all day. Nothing new. WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 19, 1868 Was in town. Very pleasant, warm clear day, snow and ice melting fast. Dan'l was in today. Took Harry along home. Mary Wilson and French Small went home today. Harry went out home today with Dan'l. THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 20, 1868 Was in town all day. A very pleasant day, warm and clear. Snow melting fast, sleighs still crossing on the ice. Father was in today. Nothing doing. Promise of commencing bridge across the river here very favorable this summer. Mary and Danny were at Jim Smith's this afternoon. FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 21, 1868 In town all day. Cloudy in forenoon. Dan'l was in today, brought Harry home. Sleighs stopped running over the ice, people still walking over. SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 22, 1868 This is Washington's Birthday. Nice day, but cold. Was in office best part of day. People still crossing on the ice. At home most all eve. SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 23, 1868 At home all day. Cold, disagreeable. At church in eve, at furnace a little while in morning. About as cold a day as we had one yet. Johnson is trying to drive Stanton out of office. Great excitement at Washington. MONDAY, FEBRUARY 24, 1868 Was in town all day. Nothing doing. Cold and snowing. Nothing doing. All well. TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 25, 1868 Was in town all day. About eight inches of snow. Cloudy all day, not very cold. Nothing doing. All well. Great excitement at Washington and all over the country about the impeachment of Andrew Johnson, President. WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 26, 1868 Was in town all day. Ferd Kauffelt was here sewing. Sold about four hundred dollars worth of lumber. Cloudy damp days, people still crossing the river on sleighs. THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 27, 1868 In town all day, doing nothing. Cloudy day. Snowed a little in forenoon. Tolerable good sleighing, very slushy. Gold not going up on the Washington excitement. FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 28, 1868 In office nearly all day. Cloudy and snowstorms, but not very cold. Father was in today. People still crossing on the ice. Have Ferd sewing. Excitement at Washington somewhat abating. SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 29, 1868 Was in town all day. A rough, windy day. Jim Shenberger & self drove across the ice today or night, so then came back & he took Mary & Mirt over. Good sleighing. SUNDAY, MARCH 1, 1868 Was out home today. Went out in sleigh. Had Harry and Cordie along. Good sleighing. Rough, cloudy day. Commenced snowing about five o'clock in eve. Was not in church today. All well at home. MONDAY, MARCH 2, 1868 Cloudy all day. Snowed about three inches of snow last night. Snowing again this afternoon. Stopped before night. Hannah Beidler and her husband came here this afternoon from out home. They came in buggy. I never saw any of them before. All well. TUESDAY, MARCH 3, 1868 Very cold today. Mercury at zero this morning, at 20 all day. Very good sleighing, plenty of snow. Hauling pig iron across the river on the ice. Visitors left today, invited us to come and see them. This has been a very cold winter so far. Very little rain, plenty of snow after Christmas. WEDNESDAY, MARCH 4, 1868 Was in town all day. Cold day. Clear. Nothing going on. Splendid sleighing. All well except cold. THURSDAY, MARCH 5, 1868 Was at York today. Drove up in sleigh. Had Mary and Jane Kerr along. Splendid sleighing in forenoon. Warm and clear in afternoon. Snow melting fast. Sleighing bad. Paid two subscription to York Pennsylvanian. Mary and Jane Kerr were at Dave Strickler's for dinner. Stopped at Rachel Bahn's for a few minutes coming home. A great many people out sleighing today. FRIDAY, MARCH 6, 1868 Had Harry and Cordie out sleighing in afternoon. Sleighing is poor today, snow melting fast. Not cold today. Got a letter from Bahn. Nothing new. Still crossing the river here with four horse teams. SATURDAY, MARCH 7, 1868 Was in town all day. Nothing doing. Got Five Hundred dollars out of Bank today for 4 months. Paid Brubaker Meat bill, Levergood shoe bill, Lehman & John store bill. Warm day. Snow melting very fast. Mercury nearly at sixty. Gave maid five dollars. She was at Columbia today. SUNDAY, MARCH 8, 1868 Was at home all day. Pleasant day. Snow going fast. Not in church today. Jim & Mirt were here in eve. Harry is not well. I think he has catarrh fever again. MONDAY, MARCH 9, 1868 In town all day. Pleasant day. Not cold. Cloudy in afternoon. People still walking across the ice. TUESDAY, MARCH 10, 1868 Cloudy most all day. Last crossing on the ice today. It is getting very dangerous. Nothing new. Not much doing. All tolerable well. WEDNESDAY, MARCH 11, 1868 In town all day. Nice day. Not much snow lying. Mary and the little ones took supper at Jane Kerr's. Ice moving today. Broke through on the Columbia side in afternoon. River muddy and raising. Sold Ike Bean a suit of clothes yesterday for $10.00. THURSDAY, MARCH 12, 1868 Was in town all day. Cloudy day, not very cold. Father was in today. Ice is running, think it started last night at half past two. I was up all night watching to see it go. Stayed in office, myself and several others. Did not do much damage here. Moved off tolerable quietly. John Stoner don't want his money this spring. FRIDAY, MARCH 13, 1868 Was in town all day. Nothing doing. Cloudy day. Ice running fast, river tolerable high. Was in office best part of day. Paid my tailor bill today, some forty-odd dollars. All tolerable well. I still am troubled with a pain on my breast. No crossing on the river. SATURDAY, MARCH 14, 1868 Was in town all day. Paid McConkey $20.75 for oats today. Cloudy and foggy. Ice running and the river raising. Put four fish nets in today, A. B. Sloat and self. Paid Heppenstall for stuff for gun, my cost $7.44. SUNDAY, MARCH 15, 1868 Warm, cloudy and foggy. River still raising, a great deal of ice and logs running. Was in office a good part of day, up at the point in afternoon, at church in evening. MONDAY, MARCH 16, 1868 Was in town all day. River raising fast, nearly at the Rail Road. Nothing doing today. Shot 3 muskrat, up the river shore. Warm and pleasant, fog in forenoon. TUESDAY, MARCH 17, 1868 Was in town all day. Pleasant day. Hubley had sale today. Father & Dan'l were in today. They took Harry and Cordie out with them. I also gave them a mess of fish. River still raising, it is now over the Rail Road track. Paid J. Bahn for 15 Bush oats at 68 cts. A dance at Hubley's in evening. Was along the river till eleven o'clock. Some of our lumber is in danger. News that the river is still raising above helped to get up a (word torn from book) this eve. WEDNESDAY, MARCH 18, 1868 Was in town all day. Pleasant day. River stopped raising about 5 o'clock in afternoon, took about thirty dollars worth of lumber from us last night. The water within about 32 inches as high as the big fresh in '65 Boom. Logs have most all gone through. Was at the delegate meeting this eve. A party went across the river on a skiff today. Coming over, landed near the dam. Loaned Newcomer fifty dollars. THURSDAY, MARCH 19, 1868 The river is falling. Pleasant day. Father was in today. Nothing doing. Getting a little colder towards eve. Mary had Harry at Jacob Bahn's today. FRIDAY, MARCH 20, 1868 Election day. Commenced snowing this morning and snowed fast all day. Snow melting nearly as fast as it falls. Put in eight fish nets today. Water off from Rail Road track. Myself am on ticket for councilman, Republican. The issue is pavements or no pavements. I am in for pavements. Disagreeable day. Not very cold, but pouring down snow. High water mark of this year in Hubley's warehouse at post notches in cellar. The excitement about the impeachment of the president has died out. Hubley quit the hotel business in this place. No hotel to be kept at Squire Wilson's house. The whole Republican ticket was defeated except myself, the Constable and Inspector. A rough night, snowing fast. SATURDAY, MARCH 21, 1868 Snowing and blowing nearly all day. A very disagreeable day. Slushy. Had some fish this morning. Had eight nets out. Steamboat Callie was over this forenoon for the 1st time since the ice is gone. Landed at the mound. River still over McConkey's wharf. A flock of swans on the river today. Rough and stormy. I am taking Weston's Balsam at present. SUNDAY, MARCH 22, 1868 Was in town all day. Cold, rough day, unpleasant to be out. A few inches of snow on the ground. Simpson the Boat Builder died last night of consumption. Was not in church today. River falling fast. All tolerable well. I still have a cough and pain on my breast. In every other respect I feel well enough, sleep well and have a good appetite. MONDAY, MARCH 23, 1868 Was in town all day. Pleasant day, calm. Sent for Godey's Lady's Book and the Children's Hour. $3.50 for both, one year. Harry & Cordie are still out home yet. Honor thy father & mother --- Never talk about your neighbor. Mind your own business better other people mind theirs. Never quarrel with anyone. Attend church regularly, not for fashion's sake, but for your own good. Never judge your neighbor, but see to your own salvation. TUESDAY, MARCH 24, 1868 Was in town all day. Pleasant day. Nothing new. Les Simpson was buried today. Was at the first Council Meeting last eve. Organized or got sworn in: myself, Wm. Gosnel, John W. Reasin and Barns. Mr. Magee, Sr. is Chief Burgess. Thunderstorm in eve. Sent $3.50 for Godey's Lady Book & Children's Hour for one year, commencing with last January number. Fishing is poor, business not very brisk. WEDNESDAY, MARCH 25, 1868 Was in town all day. A most disagreeable day. Raining best part of day. Cold day. Nothing new. I am taking medicine from Thompson at present --- Snowed best part of afternoon, fast. THURSDAY, MARCH 26, 1868 Was in town all day. Clear day. About four inches of snow on the ground. Not cold. Father was in. Snow nearly all gone in eve. Mr. Munson out here. Fishing is poor. Little ones all well. Business dull. My health not very good. FRIDAY, MARCH 27, 1868 Was in town all day. Rained best part of day. Rafts have been running yesterday and today. None have come to this place yet. Bought a note today from Heindel for a hundred and twenty dollars. Will make about 18 per cent out. Was at a Council Meeting last night. James Cook was elected Treasurer, James Aerosmith Secretary. Board all Copperheads but myself. I am down on Traitors. Business dull, money scarce. I don't feel well, pain in my side or breast troubles me. I have some notion of quitting the Lumber Business here and go to Williamsport. Got measured for an overcoat today. Cost $30.00 made. SATURDAY, MARCH 28, 1868 Was in town all day. Tolerable nice day. Was over the river in afternoon to look at a raft. Hivner and Adam Sloat were along. Money coming in slowly. Paid my coal bill today, 13 dollars and some cents. The furnace company was offered $2,500.00 for Furnace, for Bank and leases. If I had shares I would be for selling at that. SUNDAY, MARCH 29, 1868 Nice pleasant day. Was out home today, found all well. Brought Harry and Cordie home. Old Folks came to the conclusion to build a summer house or wash house as soon as possible. Eli Strickler & George Dietz were here for supper. Snow nearly all gone. Mrs. Shellenberger here all night. MONDAY, MARCH 30, 1868 Was in town all day. Tolerable nice day. Father was in today, brought some potatoes in, cabbage & c. Busy selling lumber in forenoon. Magee, Gosnel, Reasin and myself, councilmen, were called on to find the line between John (man's last name) & Smith. First job we had as councilmen. Mrs. George Harris was here in eve. First Timber Rafts came in today. All tolerable well, nothing new. Sam'l Liphart paid his interest today, $48 interest and $100.00 in principal. TUESDAY, MARCH 31, 1868 Very nice day, warm. The warmest day we had yet. Moved ice box from Hubley's over. A. B. Sloat, Herr Weltzhoffer, A. Duden, John Shetter and Rube Kline helped me. Also helped Hubley to move in forenoon. Barbara came at noon, was here for dinner. Dan'l was also in in afternoon. Got $17.12 from James Duke per James Magee, a Bill that Duke owed on Lumber a/c. Re'cd of C. S. Stoner $41.41 interest on 5 X 20 Bond. Wm. Donovan was hung at York today. WEDNESDAY, APRIL 1, 1868 Was at York today. Very warm and pleasant day. A good many people at York. I went up to collect money. Did not get a great deal. Money is tight. Saw C. Dosch first time since he came from the West. Jim Shenberger moved in Mrs. Myers' house today. Kate is down. Harris is covering his Hotel. He gets the shingles from us: No. 1 - 24 inch shaved at 16 1/2 per m. Not many rafts down yet. River most too low to run. THURSDAY, APRIL 2, 1868 Was in town all day. Was working on Gohn lot in forenoon. Got 25 bushels of lime for it. Warm in forenoon, showers and colder at noon and afternoon. All Well. The impeachment trial of the president going on. Not much excitement occasioned by it. FRIDAY, APRIL 3, 1868 Was in town all day. Pleasant day. Nothing doing. All well. Money coming in slowly. Got some boards up to the house, to make fence between me and John F. Strickler. Kate Thomas was here in eve. SATURDAY, APRIL 4, 1868 Was in town all day. Was making fence best part of day. A cool day, clear in forenoon, afternoon cloudy. Myers was here in morning to go out home to see about putting up a summer kitchen. SUNDAY, APRIL 5, 1868 Was at home nearly all day. Cold, rough, windy day. Was at the furnace after supper, at Keller's saloon after I left furnace. MONDAY, APRIL 6, 1868 Finished making a fence today. Paid Seibert $4.50 for two days Labor as fence Maker. Nice day, air cool. Reich went past today, went out home on the hunt of a girl. Cordie & Harry commenced going to summer school. Was running line for Wm. Wilson today. Present: Gosnel, Reasin, Magee & self was at Council Meeting in eve. Had young Whiteleather sawing wood today. Got Hivner's girl Jemima to nurse Dannie. Got Note of Harry Newcomer discounted, amt fifty dollars. I paid the discount. I had loaned him the money about two weeks ago as an accommodation. TUESDAY, APRIL 7, 1868 Rained fast all day. Mary was boiling soap, got good soap. Nothing doing at all today. River too down for rafting. Got a picture from Washington Library Co. WEDNESDAY, APRIL 8, 1868 Was in town. Clear, cold, windy day. Not much doing. River muddy. Nothing new. All tolerable well. THURSDAY, APRIL 9, 1868 Dan was in this morning. Cold and clear. Went to Columbia in first boat to look at some rafts. Did not buy any. Paid Buddings on store bill, ten dollars, owe them some odd cents yet. Detwiler plowed my lot today. Commenced snowing about eight o'clock this evening. Snow fast. FRIDAY, APRIL 10, 1868 Snowed all night. About five inches of snow fell last night. Snowed till noon. About 4 inches of snow on the ground at noon today. Afternoon cloudy. Paid L. E. Budding last eve on store a/c, $10.00. SATURDAY, APRIL 11, 1868 Was over in Columbia in afternoon. Brought over a keg of (product name) Beer. Paid 2.00. Paid 80 cts to Bucher for some Bottles. Clear day, snow melting very fast. Dan'l was in today to get money of Judgment on Mike Gohn's estate. Sent some cakes out with him for Easter. SUNDAY, APRIL 12, 1868 Dan'l Rudy and self walked out home today. Warm and pleasant in morning, looked as if spring would come all at once. Some snow laying yet along the Rail Road. About 10 o'clock wind changed & got colder. Saw some pigeons flying. Rudy & self took dinner with old Folks. Commenced raining about one o'clock. Soon after it commenced hailing, and about five o'clock it snowed fast. Walked home in rain & hail. The morning came in like a lamb & went out like a lion. So ends Easter Sunday 1868. MONDAY, APRIL 13, 1868 Have about 4 inches of snow this morning. Clear and mercury down to 22 degrees. Snowed nearly all last night. Was at Columbia nearly all day. Levi Strickler & C. Stoner were with me. Came home in last Boat. Best part of snow gone. TUESDAY, APRIL 14, 1868 Was in town all day. Cold, disagreeable day. Outdoors, not doing much. River is raising slowly, only a few rafts. At Columbia for sale. Rained a little in afternoon. WEDNESDAY, APRIL 15, 1868 Cloudy and foggy in forenoon, clouds broken in afternoon. Not very warm. Nothing doing. River raising. Windy. Working slowly at Bridge piers on the other side. Ferd Kauffelt is here sewing today. Furnace is selling their iron about as fast as they make it. Harry and Cordie are going to school. Dan'l is well. Wrightsville is improving very slow. Lumber Business is going down, trade has gone to Williamsport. Fishing with nets in the river was very poor this spring. THURSDAY, APRIL 16, 1868 Had Cordie & Harry over at Columbia at Forbaugh's Circus this afternoon. Had large collection of animals. First circus they have ever been at. Cordy was very much frightened on a/c of the noises of the animals & c. Had elephants, lions, tigers, leopards, camel, bears & c & c. Rained nearly all day, and very muddy. A. S. Hiestand gave me a check for $500.00 to pay on his note. We also sent him some lumber. Was out with council. FRIDAY, APRIL 17, 1868 Tolerable nice day. Father & Dan'l were in today. They brought me three shoats. Loaned Dr. Thompson my horse today, for a few days --- his is hurt. Council was out running line today, I was along. Pleasant in eve, not cold. SATURDAY, APRIL 18, 1868 Tolerable nice day. Sent Nancy Hivner off today. She got too impudent. Paid her in full, $16.00. Mrs. George Harris was here in eve. Had qt. of ice cream, paid 40 cts pt. River still raising. SUNDAY, APRIL 19, 1868 Cold, cloudy day. Was at the furnace a little while about noon. After noon an hour or so at Jim's, in evening at home. A cold, rough spring so far. MONDAY, APRIL 20, 1868 Was at York in forenoon. Rained all day. Came home at noon. Bought a commutation ticket. Paid out Government License today at Harris', also tax on my watches. Have no income tax to pay this year. Paid my butcher bill to date, $7 and some cents. All tolerable well. No girl except Jemima Hivner. Father was in today to pay his income tax. TUESDAY, APRIL 21, 1868 Cloudy and raining best part of day. Old Adam Bahn was buried today, none of us at the funeral. I was at Columbia and Marietta in forenoon after rafts. Only a few came in so far. Did not buy any. Lewis Thomas was here in afternoon. Mary was boiling soap today. Heard that Kate Fitz died. WEDNESDAY, APRIL 22, 1868 Very pleasant day. Was out at Christ Dosch's & at Gehley's. Went to see if we could not get Clay Dosch to stay with us a few weeks. She and Mary Gehley came in with me. Took the cars at Hiestand's. The first nice day we have had for a long time. Foggy in morning, but soon clear and warm. Bought a note from Dan'l Rudy yesterday for $90.00 --- sixty days. Boatmen are getting ready to start out boating. Two rafts came in today for Hostetler, the first ones that landed here this spring, of sawed timber. THURSDAY, APRIL 23, 1868 Was out home in forenoon. Carpenter Myers and myself drove out in Dr. Thompson's buggy. Had my horse. Clear day, mercury at 80. They are digging out cellar for summer kitchen. Colder in eve and very stormy: blowed some rafts on this side of the river from Marietta. FRIDAY, APRIL 24, 1868 Was in town all day. Cold day. Father took two loads of samples out for sheeting upper side of barn. Stoner was up the shore looking at some lumber, haven't bought any yet so far. Was digging garden in forenoon and afternoon, had Sam'l Whiteleather to help. SATURDAY, APRIL 25, 1868 Was over in Columbia in forenoon. Rained. Looked at a few rafts, did not buy any. In office in afternoon. Still raining. Mary Gehley is still here but wanted to go home today. Much lumber down yet. SUNDAY, APRIL 26, 1868 Was in town all day. Clear but not very warm. Was out in church today. Mary Gehley went home today. Clay Dosch is still here. All tolerable well. MONDAY, APRIL 27, 1868 Was at Columbia and Marietta today. Was trying to buy some lumber. Not much here yet. As about the same prices they did last year. I think I will get one raft from Job Doane for $750 in water. About 44,000 ft, 16,000 of which is pine & poplar. Clear, pleasant day. TUESDAY, APRIL 28, 1868 Job Doane brought his raft over today. Gave him a check for $750. Nice day. Was over in Columbia in forenoon. Afternoon Stoner was over. Ambrose Smith got married today. WEDNESDAY, APRIL 29, 1868 Bowen brought raft over today that Stoner bought yesterday. Had some twenty-odd thousand shingles on and some fifteen thousand pickets. Paid for pickets $15 and shingles 25 per m. Rained in forenoon, and cloudy and rain with a cold wind the best part of the day. Old Joe Detwiler died today. Was counting shingles today. Detwiler was not sick very long. THURSDAY, APRIL 30, 1868 Very pleasant day. In morning, foggy. Part of forenoon clear, and also afternoon --- warm. Or hot, rather. Was at Marietta in forenoon, afternoon at Columbia. Bought no raft today. Stoner and the Hivners were taking pickets & shingles from raft. Father was in today, took Harry & Cordie out, with first spring day we have had. FRIDAY, MAY 1, 1868 Cool in forenoon, afternoon warm. Was at old Joe Detwiler's funeral in afternoon. Met with Bucher the first time today. He was here for supper. Commenced drawing lumber today. Bought Ebern's rafts today for $1200. Got a letter from Bahn. Was digging garden in forenoon. Was at meeting in eve. SATURDAY, MAY 2, 1868 Bucher was here all night. He has a very bad cough. Beautiful last eve. Cloudy all day. Rain in forenoon and afternoon. Dan'l was in in afternoon. Stoner was at Columbia. Hivner was drawing in forenoon. Paid Rudy today for saddle. SUNDAY, MAY 3, 1868 Bucher & self drove out home today. Had Sam & Dr. Thompson's buggy. Cloudy in forenoon, clearer towards noon. Not cold. Cloudy in eve. Joe Bucher was here all night. MONDAY, MAY 4, 1868 Left this morning for Williamsport. Went round by York. Got a hat. Got to Williamsport about six o'clock in eve. Stopped at the City Hotel. Seen Munson & Starkweather in eve. Rained in afternoon. Much building going on up this way at present. Stoner bought 3 (adjective) rafts today, paid $46.00. TUESDAY, MAY 5, 1868 Was looking around for lumber today. One of Burg's boats came here this morning. Cloudy and dour day. Commenced loading at Starkweather's & Munson's Mill. Got some flooring and weatherboarding from Philips & Nichols at 27 & 28. Burg came at noon. WEDNESDAY, MAY 6, 1868 Was see (sic) them load boat all day. Engaged some more Fillet Siding at 29 per m. Rain showers. Lumber is high & shipped fast at from $20, 22, 25 per m for boards. Was in theatre in eve. Left Williamsport about midnight for home. Got to York about six o'clock. THURSDAY, MAY 7, 1868 Came to York this morning from Williamsport. Raining. Was at York in forenoon. Was looking at some buggys. Intend to buy one before long. Came home at noon. Cold & rough day. Found all well. Apple trees are in blossom. Did not sleep any last night --- have cold. FRIDAY, MAY 8, 1868 A cold, cloudy day. Have a bad cold. Bucher is here again. Paid Bueller & Stoner back, over three hundred dollars. Too cold to draw lumber today. Have bought six rafts and one boat load of lumber so far. Only one hemlock in the sale. SATURDAY, MAY 9, 1868 Very clear in forenoon, cloudy in afternoon. Cool day. Have not been doing much today. Dr. Thompson brought my horse home. Had ice cream in eve. Have a bad cold. SUNDAY, MAY 10, 1868 Clear day, cool. Joe Bucher & self drove out to Sam'l Bahn's. Were to see Rachel too. Were at Sam'l Bahn's for dinner and supper. Very pleasant eve. Stoner & Harry were out home today, and Cordie and Clay Dosch were at Mike Dosch's. All came home after supper. Had Dr. Thompson's buggy. Have my heavy clothes on yet and did not feel any day yet too warm. An awful cold spring, very late. Everything is backward. MONDAY, MAY 11, 1868 Clear day, cool in morning, warm in afternoon. Drawing and putting lumber today. I have a very bad cold. Was at Building Association meeting tonight. Paid in first installment, $5.00, fifty cents extra for expenses. Have only five shares in all: myself three, Cordie one & Harry one. Have all my winter clothes on yet. TUESDAY, MAY 12, 1868 Was in yard all day sorting lumber. Clear day but cold air. Had a nigger digging garden today. Planted in eve. Some melon & cantalope seed. Apple trees are full of blossom. This has been so far the coldest and roughest spring that I ever seen --- we have only had one or two warm days. WEDNESDAY, MAY 13, 1868 Was in town all day sorting lumber. Nothing new. Stoner is not well and myself have a bad cold and pain on breast. Wrote a letter to Bahn. Rained best part of day, very stormy. THURSDAY, MAY 14, 1868 Was in town all day. Boat load of lumber came at noon. Were unloading in afternoon. Joe Bucher is still here. Christ Dosch was here for supper. Mr. Lane & self intended bobbing eels in eve, but looked too showery and cold. FRIDAY, MAY 15, 1868 Got $20 from Dan'l Rudy. Also interest on five Twenty Bonds, some $58. Cloudy, showery day. Finished unloading boat. Bucher still here. He is consumpted. Was busy best part of day. Lane and self were bobbing eels in eve, some 18 or 20 we caught. Cloudy, showery eve. SATURDAY, MAY 16, 1868 Cloudy day --- around the yd all day. Sold over $100 worth of lumber for cash. Business tolerable good. River within a foot over McConkey's Wharf. We have more of an assortment of lumber and more good stuff than we had in any year yet. SUNDAY, MAY 17, 1868 Rained nearly all day. Joe Bucher & self were in church in eve, in both Lutheran and Presbyterian. Heavy rains today. All tolerable well. The Columbia bridge company are pushing ahead --- have the framework up of one or two spans. No roof on it yet. Masons busy repairing piers. MONDAY, MAY 18, 1868 Cloudy and rain showers all day. Sold a good bit of lumber today. Hivner was busy piling all day. Apple trees are in blossom yet. Andrew Johnson, the Traitor, will not be impeached. Cops jubilant. TUESDAY, MAY 19, 1868 Was in yard all day, busy nearly all day loading car and wagons. Gave Munson & Starkweather our note at 30 days from date for $1725.00. Drew my bank divident, $110. Paid Minnich for building roof over cistern, fixing chairs, carriage house & so forth; $26.50. Cloudy day and cool, rain showers. Joe Bucher is still here. WEDNESDAY, MAY 20, 1868 Was in York today. Went up to collect some money. Got two hundred out of seven. Cloudy and cold day. Rained in eve. Paid advertisement in True Democrat, $8.00; supscription, $2.00. Bought a (product), 3.50. Joe Bucher is here. River raising in forenoon. A great many logs running. Water within about 3 inches over McConkey's Wharf. Business dull in York. Clay Dosch has tootheache. Father was in today, brought some potatoes in. THURSDAY, MAY 21, 1868 Ascension Day. Cloudy all day. Rained a little in afternoon. Cool air. Drawing and piling lumber. FRIDAY, MAY 22, 1868 Was out at Abram Hiestand's in afternoon. Went out to see if he would not pay some money on that note. Did not get any. Nice day. SATURDAY, MAY 23, 1868 Was in town all day. Cloudy day; rained. No piling in afternoon. Milton Bahn's were here in eve. Evening dark and cloudy. Dan'l was in today. SUNDAY, MAY 24, 1868 Henry L. Flora died very sudden last night. Mary, Harry, Danny & myself drove out home today. Cloudy, rainy-looking day. Rained a little in afternoon. Found the old Folks well and pleased. Came home after supper. MONDAY, MAY 25, 1868 Was in town all day. Sold a good bit of lumber today. Cloudy day, looks very much for rain. Munson run in four rafts today in oat cars. Henry Flora was buried today. TUESDAY, MAY 26, 1868 Was in town all day. Very pleasant day, the nicest and warmest day we had for a long time. Went on a bond today, of Wrightsville Iron Company, for six hundred dollars. Me and old Cook, old Cook first. Was cleaning house today. Had Miss Lidia Williams and Mrs. Whiteleather. Sold some lumber today. Wrote a letter to A.S. Hiestand about that money again. WEDNESDAY, MAY 27, 1868 Was in town all day cleaning house. Nice day. Had Reid digging garden. Amanda Beverson died this eve. Father was in today. THURSDAY, MAY 28, 1868 Was in town all day. Not doing a great deal. Cloudy day. All tolerable well. FRIDAY, MAY 29, 1868 Was in town all day. Cloudy in forenoon, sun shining in afternoon. Was bobing in eve. Lane, Shenberger, Sloat and self. Pleasant eve. Caught some thirty-odd eels. Amanda Beverson was buried today. Sold a carload of lumber today. SATURDAY, MAY 30, 1868 Was in Columbia in forenoon --- or afternoon, I should say. Harry was along. Nice day, first nice day we have had for some time. Cordie & Clay Dosch went home to Dosch's today on noon train, as far as A.S. Hiestand's. Bought two rafts from Munson today, part pine and hemlock, on time, six months. Harry Kauffelt got a boatload of lumber, intends to start a yard. SUNDAY, MAY 31, 1868 Whitsuntide. Mary, Danny, Harry and self drove out home in afternoon, came home after supper. Very pleasant day. Thinking it will stay nice now for a while. So far we have had a very disagreeable spring. Corn is most too small to work at yet and not all planted. Can't tell yet if there will be many apples or not this year. MONDAY, JUNE 1, 1868 Was at York today. Odd Fellows from different towns around had a parade today. More people at York today than I have seen on any Whit Monday yet in York. Almost equal to Lancaster on Whit Monday. A very pleasant day, warm. Cordie and Clay came home this day. Mrs. George Kerr and Mrs. J. Bahn, Jr. were here for supper. Bought Danny a coverage today for $15.00. Mary was home all day. I think we will have nice weather now. Have not planted our early cabbage yet. TUESDAY, JUNE 2, 1868 Was in town all day. Pleasant day, warm. Loading wagons in forenoon. After, a car. Father & Dan'l took two loads of Slate out to cover one side of roof on bank. Presbyterian Presbytery met here yesterday and today. We had one Minister last night, went home this morning. WEDNESDAY, JUNE 3, 1868 Was in town all day. C. Dosch was here a few minutes. Cloudy and cool. Sold a few loads of lumber today. Send a letter to A.S. Hiestand: If he would not pay that note on Friday I would sell it to parties that would collect it. Wrote a letter to Sam'l Hostetler. THURSDAY, JUNE 4, 1868 Cool, cloudy day. In yard all day getting our yard pretty well filled up. Selling this week so far about $100 worth a day. Ike Bean was sawing wood today. Had to have fire in stove nearly every evening this spring. I never saw the like before, to my recollection. Old Buchanan, ex-president, was buried at Lancaster today. Ferd Kauffelt was here sewing today. FRIDAY, JUNE 5, 1868 Was in town all day. Cloudy day. A little rain shower. Lumber business looks encouraging. Still drawing pine. Have only two hemlock rafts so far. Was bobing eels in eve. SATURDAY, JUNE 6, 1868 A.B. Sloat, Harry & self drove down to the Green Branch Run today to fish for trout. Did not catch one, seen a few. Warm day, the warmest we have had yet. Shower in eve. Heard some locust. They are making their appearance. SUNDAY, JUNE 7, 1868 Was in town all day. Rain showers in eve. Cloudy best part of day. In church in eve. All tolerable well. MONDAY, JUNE 8, 1868 Was in town all day. Dan'l was in today. Not doing much today. Ferd Kauffelt was here sewing. I cut my hand bad with my knife today. TUESDAY, JUNE 9, 1868 Was in town all day. Not doing a great deal on a/c of sore hand. Got an Insurance today on lumber of $12,000. Cost $150.00. Got three policies. Rain storm went past today, not far from here. WEDNESDAY, JUNE 10, 1868 Got a note of A.S. Hiestand today for $1500.00, payable at this bank in 60 days. He to pay stamps and discount the balance of old note, to be paid in about two months. All well. Had ice cream and strawberries in eve. Stoner bought some shingles at Columbia. THURSDAY, JUNE 11, 1868 Was in York today. Rained fast all day. Sein Demies was trying to sell some lumber. Put an advertisement in York Gazette for 8 weeks. Paid D. Strickler insurance, $150.00 for 12 thousand. Was looking at some new buggies, intend to get one. Ask $260 for one. FRIDAY, JUNE 12, 1868 Was in town all day. Rained in morning, nice and clear in afternoon. Was bobing eels in eve. Mr. Lane, A.B. Sloat, Ol' Freet & self --- did not get many. Not much doing today. All tolerable well. Nothing new. SATURDAY, JUNE 13, 1868 Very warm day, and clear. Went out home this morning about 4 o'clock to mow. When I got there they had postponed mowing till Monday on account of creek flooding some grass. Took morning train at Stoner's Switch and came home. Was busy shipping lumber all day. Shipped over $300 worth. Got over a hundred dollars on Hubley notes. Very nice day. Had ice cream and strawberries in eve. Bought 4 boxes at 10 cts apiece. C.C. Dosch and wife came in eve. SUNDAY, JUNE 14, 1868 Very warm and pleasant day. Dosch's were here all day. Was not in church. Had homemade beer today. Christ & self were at Dan'l Rudy's house in eve. MONDAY, JUNE 15, 1868 Was out home today morning. A splendid hay day. Seven of us mowing. Mowed off lower and part of upper meadow in forenoon. Some grass flooded. Felt well all day. Walked home in eve and attended council meeting, paid Bounty Tax, and so forth. Doschs went home this morning. TUESDAY, JUNE 16, 1868 Drove out home this morning. Took Harry & Cordie along. Mowed till noon. Came home about 12 o'clock; left little ones and horse and carriage out. Cloudy day. Have both meadows off and none in. Don't intend to cut any more untill we get some away. WEDNESDAY, JUNE 17, 1868 Went out home this morning on train. Jumped off at our (Baers?). Mary and Dannie were in train. Went to York. Very warm day. Harry & self walked home in eve. Cordie stayed out. Put about four loads of hay away today. THURSDAY, JUNE 18, 1868 Mary came home in morning train. Very warm day. Mercury at 96 in shade. Was not out home today. Had only about 3 loads of hay to put away. Was bobing eels in eve --- did not catch any. Hottest day this season. FRIDAY, JUNE 19, 1868 Was in town all day. Very warm. Did not do much. Cordie is out home yet. Rain shower in eve. Planted one hundred and fifty cabbage plants. Was at Orchestra Festival in eve, Harry & self. SATURDAY, JUNE 20, 1868 Went out home this morning to mow. Got out before sunrise. Mowed till four o'clock in afternoon, when we finished piece where old barn used to stand in. When Cordie & self walked home, I was very sore and stiff when I got home. Rain shower about dusk. Was not at festival this eve on account of being too tired. Rec'd forty dollars of John Fary today for Dan'l Gehley. SUNDAY, JUNE 21, 1868 Longest day, rained nearly all day. Was at the house 'most all day, at church in eve. Mary also. Dan'l is not quite well. Have a full notion to go West this fall. MONDAY, JUNE 22, 1868 Was in town in forenoon doing nothing. After noon went out in cars to see A.S. Hiestand. Gave him sixty days from today to pay note. Not a very good hay day. Cool in eve. Broken clouds throughout the day. Finish piling lumber tomorrow if it don't rain. TUESDAY, JUNE 23, 1868 Was out home helping to make hay. Took in four or five loads. Not very warm today. Very pleasant day to work. Clear and smoky-like. Went out on the cars, walked home. WEDNESDAY, JUNE 24, 1868 Was out home in afternoon. Put about four loads of hay away. Good hay day. Hurt my foot unloading last load with hay fork. Pained me very much. Walked out & home. THURSDAY, JUNE 25, 1868 Father brought a load of hay in this morning. Unloaded before breakfast. Cloudy morning. Father brought the butter in. Gave him interest of Brubaker, $36.00. Bought 125 lbs sugar today from J. P. Levergood, at 17 1/2, 17 3/4, 15 3/4 & 13 cents per lb. FRIDAY, JUNE 26, 1868 Cloudy in morning. Warm clear day. Was not doing anything today. All tolerable well. SATURDAY, JUNE 27, 1868 Was in town all day. Not doing anything. Gave Levergood check for sugar, $20.50. Clear day, warm; splendid hay day. SUNDAY, JUNE 28, 1868 Was at home all day. Wrote a letter for Father Abraham's newspaper. Nice day, warm. Mary, self & little ones were at Joe Bahn's in eve. MONDAY, JUNE 29, 1868 Was down at the dam fishing in forenoon. Caught 64 rock fish, all small. Nice day. Harry went out home today. Nothing new, business dull. TUESDAY, JUNE 30, 1868 Was down at the dam fishing in forenoon. Caught 99 rockfish. Cloudy day. Paid Levergood & Jacob's shoe bill in full, $21.75 to date. WEDNESDAY, JULY 1, 1868 Was down at the dam fishing best part of day, Harris Wilton & self. I caught 18 small rock, Wilton 68. Very warm day. Very warm day, Mercury about 94. THURSDAY, JULY 2, 1868 Was in town all day doing nothing. Very warm. Father and Dan'l were in today. Brought a load of hay in. Cordie went out with them & Harry came home. Mercury at 94. Clear. FRIDAY, JULY 3, 1868 Was down at the dam fishing in the forenoon. Was poor fishing. Very hot day, Mercury at 95. Got note paid against store office, $50.00 less the interest. SATURDAY, JULY 4, 1868 Spent best part of day at house and in office. Clear and very hot. Mercury at 98 in shade. A few small picnics out from town and Methodist Sunday School. Calm, not much air. All well. Cordy out home. Very few people at harvesting yet. Joe Bahn commenced last Wednesday --- only one I know of. Harvest very late, also corn much behind. Eight spans of bridge up. I remember that we finished harvesting on Fourth of July, this year have not commmenced yet. River is falling fast. Sham battle in Miller's Woods today. Rebel party meet at New York today to nominate a man to run for president. Harry is putting in his time today firing off shooting crackers, him and Johnny Harris. The locusts, which were numerous, are about played out. A person can only hear a few yet and they appear to be weak. It had a good many in town here. A great many chestnut sprouts in the woods look as if they were dieing on a/c of locusts depositing their larva. A good many persons have been stung and died from its effects. They had the bets on this being a sign for war, some people say. Was in swimming today, first this season. SUNDAY, JULY 5, 1868 A. B. Sloat, Harry & self walked out home in afternoon today. Very hot. Brought horse and carriage in. They have not commenced cutting grain yet. Oats look splendid, wheat is good. Apple crop looks poor, cherries also. MONDAY, JULY 6, 1868 Very warm day. Received a carload of shingles and one of siding today. Was at Council Meeting in eve. School board met us to see about getting ground for a new school house. We advised them to buy a lot and build a large house. Paid state license today. TUESDAY, JULY 7, 1868 Was loading and unloading cars nearly all day. Two rainshowers in afternoon, came very opportune for potatoes and corn. Very warm till after showers. WEDNESDAY, JULY 8, 1868 Was loading car in forenoon. Very warm afternoon. A. B. Sloat and self went down to the dam fishing. I caught 25 rockfish & 19 perch, Sloat only two rock. River raising a little. THURSDAY, JULY 9, 1868 Was working in garden most all day. Very warm. Father took Harry out today. Rain shower. FRIDAY, JULY 10, 1868 Weaver, A. B. Sloat and self were down at deep hole out-line fishing in afternoon. Cloudy best part of day. Father & Dan'l were in today. Got note renewed at bank today. Paid $200.00 on it. SATURDAY, JULY 11, 1868 Came home this morning at two o'clock from fishing at the deep hole. Had about 28 eels and a few catfish. Nice day. Hot. Got a load of shingles today. SUNDAY, JULY 12, 1868 At home all day. At church in the eve. Very hot day, and clear. All well. Harry out home. MONDAY, JULY 13, 1868 Was at York today. Very warm day. Mercury at 96 in shade. Farmers busy harvesting oats. Looks green yet. Paid D. Frey for paper today, in full, for D. Beidler. Told him to stop paper. TUESDAY, JULY 14, 1868 A. B. Sloat, D. Strickler & self were in Strickler's dam fishing. Caught a nice lot of catfish. Creek too high for good fishing. Harry was along. He was out at Father's and came to us. Fished from 9 am to 3 pm. Sloat & self caught very few after we left the dam. The hottest day this season. Sweated more today walking home than I ever did. Mercury about five o'clock at 99. Harry came home with us. Brought gooseberries along. Old Folks nearly done harvesting. Later, Mercury at 100. WEDNESDAY, JULY 15, 1868 Was in town all day doing nothing. The hottest day we have had yet. Mercury at 2 o'clock at 102, after at 101 till after five. Sky clear and smoky, considerable, air. A great many people sunstruck in the Cities. Hotter than I know it to have been. THURSDAY, JULY 16, 1868 Very hot last night. Slept very little. All well. Day clear, smoky and hot. FRIDAY, JULY 17, 1868 Was in town all day. Nothing new. Clear and hot. All well. Nothing doing. Business dull. SATURDAY, JULY 18, 1868 Was in town all day. Nothing doing. Very hot day. Got 65 five dollars from Jim Shenberger today, $55.00 on principal sum of $200.00 and balance interest. Told him I would give him credit for 55.00 on note from last April. I think D. Detrosler will pay A. S. Hiestand's note on Monday. SUNDAY, JULY 19, 1868 Was out home today. Warm day. Showry looking in afternoon but no rain. Garden patch suffering for want of rain. Not in church today. Old Folks all well. MONDAY, JULY 20, 1868 Got a letter from Bahn. Got $1800.00 from D. Detrosler on A. S. Hiestand note. Gave my note at 5 per cent times sixty days. I hold old note yet. Was at Columbia in forenoon. Warm day. Gave Cal Thompson $5.00 for schooling in full. Ferd Kauffelt is here sewing. TUESDAY, JULY 21, 1868 Hot day, hazy. Cloudy best part of day. Reuben Myers came this morning to commence framing kitchen for old Folks. They took a load of lumber out this forenoon. Jim Shenberger was just at the furnace last night. A good many people going through here, going and coming from National Camp Meeting at Manheim, Lancaster Co. River is low and the grass appearing. Ten spans up of Columbia Bridge --- fast work. WEDNESDAY, JULY 22, 1868 Cloudy best part of day, but very warm and close. Father & Dan'l were for lumber this morning. Mary was at Columbia. Was out at Wilson's last evening. Told Mary that the Orchestra was coming out on Thursday eve. She told me some time ago to try and get them out. Lumber moving off today. Got a letter from Adam Tait today, western Virginia. THURSDAY, JULY 23, 1868 Very warm day. Father & Dan'l were hauling lumber for summer kitchen. Dr. Branneman was here today, cut open lump at horse leg. Showry around us about noon. Ferd Kauffelt here sewing. Went out with Orchestra to Mrs. Wilson's this eve. Played till eleven o'clock and then walked home. Went out on cars. Not much of a turnout --- only a few strangers there. Had ice cream and cakes. FRIDAY, JULY 24, 1868 Got home one o'clock last night. Cloudy. Commenced raining about three o'clock. Was at Lancaster in forenoon. Rained fast all forenoon and best part of afternoon. Camp Meeting broke up today. People came in to Lancaster fast, all in a shocking condition, some perfectly soaked wet & mud all over. C. Dosch & wife were here in afternoon. Came from Camp Meeting. All well. A splendid rain and just time. SATURDAY, JULY 25, 1868 Was in town all day, not doing anything. Nice day. All well. River raising a lot. Paid note in bank today. SUNDAY, JULY 26, 1868 Was home all day, in office writing letters in forenoon. Nice day. Not in church today. Mary was. Bletz Planing Mill burned today. MONDAY, JULY 27, 1868 Was weeding garden in forenoon, after at dam fishing. Caught 42 rock. Bait scarce. Cordy & Harry went out home today. Cloudy best part of day. TUESDAY, JULY 28, 1868 Nice day. Not doing much. Was down at the dam fishing in afternoon, A. B. Sloat and self. Caught some 32 rock. Warm day, nothing new. Tremendous Freshet in Baltimore last week. About 80 persons were drowned in the city and vicinity. WEDNESDAY, JULY 29, 1868 Frank Magee was married today to Mar Smith1. Big time among the family. High style wedding. Nice day, warm. Was out home today. Have summer kitchen up. Just commencing to put roof on when I left. Thursday, July 30, 1868 Was in town all day. Painting front porch in forenoon. Nice day. Very smoky sky on a/c of fire in the woods in Canada. River low. All well. Little ones out home. FRIDAY, JULY 31, 1868 Was in Wilton's Pond fishing in afternoon. Party of us caught a good many catfish. Had a good time of it. Nice day. Somewhat cloudy, not so very warm. Sent letter off for a printing press. SATURDAY, AUGUST 1, 1868 Was in town all day doing nothing. Nice day, not so very hot. Paid McConkey old Folks' slate bill. Was painting porch in forenoon. All tolerable well. Little ones still out home. Their maid was in today. River low. Business dull. Not much sickness so far. SUNDAY, AUGUST 2, 1868 Was out home today. Drove out. Mary, Dannie, Clay Dosch and self. Rained a little in forenoon. Not very warm today. In church in evening. Coming home, Harry was along. MONDAY, AUGUST 3, 1868 Was in town all day. Nice day, cloudy in eve. Was at Council Meeting in eve. Father took some lumber out today. (Gone home?) with 4.60 and Fourteen Hundred dollars. TUESDAY, AUGUST 4, 1868 Nice day, not much doing. Stoner and Sloat went down to the dam fishing in forenoon and stayed till late in afternoon. I went down after five o'clock. Caught 20 rock when one came and took my line and over half of the rod down the river. He was a nice one. Broke the rod in two in a blink. WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 5, 1868 Was at York today. Heavy rains today. Dull in York. Bought a pair of fine boots, paid $9.00. Old Folks have some second crop cut. Carpenters finished work at summer kitchen. THURSDAY, AUGUST 6, 1868 Was in the office the best part of the day. Had new corn for supper. George Schenberger & self were down at the dam fishing in the evening. I caught 21 rock, Schenberger 3. Cloudy best part of the day. Dannie is not right well. He has bowel complaint. FRIDAY, AUGUST 7, 1868 Cloudy in forenoon. Corn looks well. They are today putting up the Iron span at the Columbia Bridge. Vigilant steam fire engine went through here this morning to York. New, which makes the second new fire engine for York. I got a squirrel dog a few days ago from Flora. Not very sickly this season so far. Very few cases of cholera so far in larger cities. SATURDAY, AUGUST 8, 1868 Cloudy in forenoon. Sam'l Kauffelt & self were out in the woods to see if the dog is good for squirrels. Did not do work today. Rain shower while we were out. Father was in in forenoon. Brought some blackberries. Harry along out. Danny has summer complaint bad. Nice afternoon. SUNDAY, AUGUST 9, 1868 Was out home today. Drove out. Mary was along. Dannie is not well. Nice day. Old Folks have all their second crop laying. MONDAY, AUGUST 10, 1868 Was at the office in forenoon. After noon George Kauffelt & self were down at the dam fishing. I caught 12, Kauffelt 11. Cloudy-looking day. Mrs. J. Bahn & Mrs. Kerr were here for supper. TUESDAY, AUGUST 11, 1868 Was loading 12,000 ft. of lumber on flat to take to Columbia to get worked into flooring. Rained a little in morning, cloudy most all day. Got a letter from Bahn. WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 12, 1868 Thaddeus Stevens died at Washington last night at 12 o'clock. Nice day. Not much doing today. All tolerable well. Still have a pain on my breast. Dannie is getting better. Have still a strong notion to go West. THURSDAY, AUGUST 13, 1868 Nice clear day, cool this morning. Sold a good bit of lumber today. Father was in today. The Press came today. FRIDAY, AUGUST 14, 1868 Drove out home this morning, Mary & self. Made some ice cream today. Had a good time. Little ones came along home. Told father that we were going West the 1st of September. Very nice day. All well. SATURDAY, AUGUST 15, 1868 Was in town all day. Not much doing. Nice day. All tolerable well. Mary preserving blackberries. SUNDAY, AUGUST 16, 1868 Was out at Sarah Wilson's today. Drove out, Mary and three little ones and self. Had a nice time of it. Pleasant day. Was out all day. MONDAY, AUGUST 17, 1868 Was down at the dam fishing in afternoon. Caught one rockfish. Very poor fishing. Water too low and clear. Nice day. Thaddeus Stevens was buried today at Lancaster. Had a very large funeral. A good many over from this place. Getting ready to go West. TUESDAY, AUGUST 18, 1868 Was in town all day. Not doing a great deal. Nice day. All well. Rebecca Dosch is here sewing. Sold a good bit of lumber today. WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 19, 1868 Was in town all day. Pleasant day. Sold a good bit of lumber today. Sam'l Hostetler came here in eve. Had a Council Meeting. Warm day. THURSDAY, AUGUST 20, 1868 Sam'l Hostetler was here all night. Father was in this morning. Hostetler went home. Rained a little today. Was setting type in afternoon. All well. FRIDAY, AUGUST 21, 1868 Was in town in forenoon, loading lumber. Drove to York in afternoon, Mary & self and Harry & Dan'l. Rainshower in afternoon. Took supper at Rachel Bahn's. SATURDAY, AUGUST 22, 1868 Was all night at Lewis Thomas'. Was at Market this morning. Bought a pair of chickens for Thomas. Got Dannie's & Harry's pictures taken this afternoon. Left York about four o'clock for Gehley's. Got to Gehley's at suppertime. SUNDAY, AUGUST 23, 1868 Was at Gehley's & Dosch's all day. A great many people went past here to Camp Meeting. Came home after supper. Had a pleasant time. No rain today. MONDAY, AUGUST 24, 1868 Was in town all day. Stoner was down at the dam fishing in the afternoon. Pleasant day. All as well as usual. TUESDAY, AUGUST 25, 1868 Was at office in forenoon. After noon had Cordie at Columbia to get her picture taken. Pleasant day. Got $110 of Beidler & Stoner. WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 26, 1868 Started for Philadelphia in morning. Cloudy morning. Got $30.00, J. Jacobs, till I come back. Cloudy best part of day. Got to Phila about one o'clock. All well. THURSDAY, AUGUST 27, 1868 Stopped at the Bingham House. Paid $3.00 a day. Bot two tickets for Madison, Wisconsin from Phila. Paid 23.30 apiece. Bought a leather trunk for $30.00. Came home on noon train. Fair from Phila. to Columbia 2.45. Don't feel well. Mr. Lane Baptized Dannie at the house this eve. Present: Mrs. Harris, Mrs. Sloat, Miss Lane & Miss Kauffelt. FRIDAY, AUGUST 28, 1868 Was in town all day, getting ready to go West. Don't feel very well. Jake was at dam fishing. SATURDAY, AUGUST 29, 1868 Took Harry & Cordie out home. Warm day. All well except Father. He has bowel complaint. SUNDAY, AUGUST 30, 1868 Was out home today. Drove out to Stoner's warehouse. J. Leber took Clay Dosch home and brought Sam'l & Carnegie home to old Folks', when we walked home. Heared Lane's farewell sermon this eve. MONDAY, AUGUST 31, 1868 Left home at four o'clock for the West. Dannie, Mary, Jacob Leber & self. Rained when we left the Wrightsville shore. Left Columbia about 9 o'clock on a/c of train being behind time. Got to Harrisburg about ten o'clock. Left Harrisburg at 12 o'clock at night & got to Altoona at daylight. To Pittsburg between nine and ten o'clock. TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 1, 1868 Left Pittsburg about about (sic) 10 o'clock for Fort Wayne & Chicago. Got dinner at Alliance, Ohio and supper at Crestline. Cars very crowded, could not get any sleep. So far sleeping cars are all taken, all the way. Rained in forepart of day. After noon cloudy and clear. WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 2, 1868 Arrived at Chicago this morning about six o'clock. Changed cars and left at nine o'clock for Milwaukee. Got to Milwaukee in time for dinner. Nice day. All very well. Dannie stood it very well so far. We feel very sleepy. Left Milwaukee at 9 o'clock at night for Madison, Wis. Got in sleeping cars for the first time. Milwaukee is a nice place. Pop 90,000. THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 3, 1868 Got to Madison this morning, about 2 o'clock. Went to bed at the American House and slept till morning. Met Theo. & Hattie here in forenoon. Nice clear day, but cool. Took a walk around town. Nice place. Left Madison for Lodi at noon, in private conveyance engaged by Bahn. Got to Lodi about six o'clock, well-chilled. Drove against a cold wind. Theo Bahn lives in a comfortable one-story house. FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 4, 1868 Leber stopped at a hotel. Leber, Bahn & self went out hunting. I shot six ducks, 14 or 15 pigeons. All well except Dannie. He caught cold yesterday coming from Madison, a distance of 25 miles. SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 5, 1868 Were out chicken hunting today. Got 13. I shot five of them & 12 pigeons & 1 squirrel. Nice day. Chickens not very plenty around here. Leber shot 3. Wild plums are very plenty here, all other fruit scarce. Nice country. Timber small and principally oak. SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 6, 1868 Was at home all day. Cloudy day. Mary was at church. Theo is a Methodist. It is colder here than East. MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 7, 1868 Were out trolling for pickerel in Sylver Lake. Caught a nice lot, 11 in all. Largest weight about 8 lbs. Plenty of pigeons around this country. I caught four pickerel. Mary and Hattie had a drive in the country in afternoon. They met us coming home. Nice day, but cool. TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 8, 1868 Leber left us this morning. Rainy day. Bahn & self were out after squirrel in forenoon. We shot five, one duck and some pigeons. WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 9, 1868 Was out hunting today. Very nice day. I shot 3 ducks, 5 squirrel an two pigeons in forenoon. All well. Took a ride in the country in eve, after wild plums. THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 10, 1868 Was not out gunning today. Women were ironing. Dannie is not quite well. Cloudy all day, fog in morning. Bahn was working in his shop --- wagon making. Town about half as large as Wrightsville, has five or six stores, 4 blacksmith shops, etc. A great many hops raised around here this year. FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 11, 1868 Bahn & self were out gunning. We shot six squirrel and some ducks. Nice day. All well except Dannie. He has catarrh fever. SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 12, 1868 Bahn & self were out after ducks in afternoon. We shot five nice ones. Dannie is very sick. Had the Dr. here today. SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 13, 1868 Was home nearly all day. Babe is a little better. Nice day. Got a letter from Mrs. Jane Kerr stating that all were well at home. MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 14, 1868 Was at house all day. Dannie is getting better. TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 15, 1868 At home all day, nursing Dannie. WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 16, 1868 Was out gunning, Bahn & self. We shot 19 ducks. Ducks are very plenty. THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 17, 1868 Was at Old Bartholomew2's for dinner and supper. Had a nice time. They live about a mile from town. All tolerable well. Nice day, but all days are very windy. Had a hard frost this morning. Damaged the hops. A great many hops pickers went through town this morning. FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 18, 1868 Was at the house nearly all day. Wrote a letter for the Star. SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 19, 1868 Was at the house all day. All well. Cloudy day and cold. SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 20, 1868 Was at Bahn's all day, in house most of the time. Cold day. MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 21, 1868 Was out fishing for pickerel today, Theo, Travis & self. We caught 3, one nice one. Cold, disagreeable day. Drove to Crystal Lake, five miles from here. TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 22, 1868 Was out gunning. Shot ducks, squirrel, etc. Cold, rough day. All well. WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 23, 1868 Was out gunning. Shot 13 ducks and four squirrel. Cold, windy day. All well. THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 24, 1868 Was at Bahn's all day. Cloudy. Mary was washing. All well. FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 25, 1868 At home all day. Mary was ironing, and I taking care of babe. Cold day. SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 26, 1868 Left Bahn's about 11 o'clock for Mazomanie, enroute for J. Dosch's. Theo & Hattie are along. A drive of about 16 miles. Rainy, cloudy day, cold and damp. Went by rail to Muscoda. Got to Orion about 8 o'clock in eve. Found Dosch all upside down and a little surprised to see us. SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 27, 1868 Slept at hotel and took supper there. Dosch not prepared for us. They live in a storehouse, all in one downstairs and all in one upstairs. Have very little furniture. Pleasant day. Left Dosch's in afternoon for Pricilla's, distant about 12 miles. One of Dosch's boys took us there. Along the road we seen the farmers hauling wood and grinding sugar cane, on Sunday. Got to Pricilla's about sundown. Found them well, living in the sprouts3 in a 12 by 14 one-story shanty, and just returned from cutting a bee tree4, also on Sunday. Tolerable nice day, cold air. Good farming land & good timber around here. Wrote a letter to K. Shenberger. MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 28, 1868 House all in one room and contains two beds and cookstove and a few chairs. Pricilla & husband slept on a chaff bed on the floor last night. Nice day. Theo, Kincannon & self were out hunting. We shot plenty of game. Ducks and squirrel are very plenty. TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 29, 1868 Very nice day, the warmest day we have had yet. Shot 19 squirrel today, 5 pheasant and four or five ducks. All well. Dannie is a very good boy. Has been all the time. WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 30, 1868 Left Pricilla's in forenoon for Dosch's, on a two-horse wagon. I did not like to stay long here on account of Dannie. Was afraid he might catch cold and get sick and no Dr. near. Cloudy day and a little rain on the road, but cleared off before we got to Dosch's. All well except Mary. She has a bad headache and cold. It looks rough in the houses out here. All sleep in one room. THURSDAY, OCTOBER 1, 1868 Theo & self were out hunting. I had two shots at a wildcat but my shot were too fine to kill. Very pleasant day. Slept at the hotel and boarded at Dosch's --- a great way to entertain visitors. FRIDAY, OCTOBER 2, 1868 Bahn & self were out gunning. We shot 9 ducks. Nice day. Slept at Dosch's tonight. It looks rough here. Orion is a hard-looking place and hard people are in it. Town contains about a dozen houses in a dilapidated condition. Got a letter from Mrs. Kerr. All well at home. The bed of the Wisconsin River is all quicksand and continually moving. SATURDAY, OCTOBER 3, 1868 I left Orion this morning for Madison. Left Mary & Bahns at Dosch's. I couldn't stand it any longer. The way they live don't suit me. Fair from Orion to Madison is $2.10. Paid boarding in a dorm at Madison --- 5 dollars, not having any baggage. Am lonesome here. Sorry that I left Dosch, but have to stick it out now till after tomorrow. Madison is nicely situated, but as a town I would not like it here. SUNDAY, OCTOBER 4, 1868 Very pleasant day. I am tired staying here. Lager beer and rum shops open all Sunday and some stores might as well be. Am shoping at the Rasdell House. I have a very severe headache and chills. Feel very bad. Went to bed at seven o'clock. Am thinking of fever and ague. MONDAY, OCTOBER 5, 1868 Feel a little better this morning. Slept tolerable well last night. Have a very bad cold. Went to the depot at seven o'clock this morning and stayed there till noon, when Mary & Bahns came. When we went to the Meredith House, where we all went in one room. Dannie has a bad cold. I am very uneasy about him. We will leave here in the morning for Freeport, then home as soon as the babe gets better. These cold winds are hard on him. TUESDAY, OCTOBER 6, 1868 Gave Bahns good-bye this morning at the Hotel. We went from Madison to Belvidere, where we took dinner. This is a nice place. Good country around it. We got to Freeport about 3 o'clock. Shoped at the Penna house. See Gilbert today. Cold, windy and rainy day. WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 7, 1868 Went to the Gilbert's today. Rainy day. Dannie has a bad cold. THURSDAY, OCTOBER 8, 1868 Was at Gilbert's all day. Cold windy day. Freeport reminds me of York. Gilbert has a nice home. The fair is in blast here. Mary & Mrs. Gilbert were at the fair today. I kept Dannie. FRIDAY, OCTOBER 9, 1868 A large Democratic Meeting here today. I was at the fair in the forenoon. Cold windy day. Fair very poor. I left in evening for Galena, got to Galena after dark. SATURDAY, OCTOBER 10, 1868 Took a look around Galena this morning. Went to some of the lead mines on the hills near town. Also took a walk around General Grant's house. He is with his family at present. Stopping here. Left at 2pm for Dubuque, Iowa. Got there about 6 o'clock. Stoped at Key City House. SUNDAY, OCTOBER 11, 1868 Took a look around Dubuque. Street cars are running here. This is quite a town. I visited some of the lead mines here. Very pleasant day. All saloons open & some stores. People don't regard Sunday much. Just build a bridge across the river here to run the cars over. Left Dubuque in afternoon for Freeport. Dunseith is a dilapidated place. MONDAY, OCTOBER 12, 1868 Was at Gilbert's most all day taking care of Dannie. Mary was washing. Nice day. Rained in eve. All well. I am writing a letter for the store. Game very scarce around Freeport. TUESDAY, OCTOBER 13, 1868 Was at Gilbert's all day. Rained all day. Mary was ironing. Cold, disagreeable day. WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 14, 1868 Large Republican Meeting here. I stood at a corner two hours to see the procession pass. Beats the Democratic Meeting, for Grant will be elected. Mary, Dannie and Mrs. Gilbert were out to see the procession. THURSDAY, OCTOBER 15, 1868 Took the morning train for Thomson or York to shoot wild geese. Got to the Mississippi or Savannah about noon. From there I walked 10 mile on the Railroad to Thomson. Very pleasant day. Got to Thomson about 3pm. Went out to shoot ducks. Shot a few. Stoped at the Thomson House. This is only a small village. FRIDAY, OCTOBER 16, 1868 Was out gunning all day. Shot 6 ducks. Wild geese are not so plenty. I seen a good many flying a way off. Plenty of snipe and ducks along the sluice here. Left Thomson for Freeport at 9 o'clock pm, got to Freeport at 1 am. SATURDAY, OCTOBER 17, 1868 Was at Gilbert's all day. Am getting anxious to get home. Cloudy day. All tolerable well. Freeport has a population of about 10,000. Nice place, growing fast, fine people. SUNDAY, OCTOBER 18, 1868 Was at Gilbert's all day. Was at Presbyterian church in eve. Cloudy, rainy and cold. Dann has the hives bad. Don't think we can leave for home tomorrow. MONDAY, OCTOBER 19, 1868 Was in Freeport all day. Cloudy day. Got a draft and letter from Stoner. Dannie not well. TUESDAY, OCTOBER 20, 1868 Left Freeport this morning for home, about 9 o'clock. Clear & pleasant. Dannie is not at all well. Got to Chicago about 3 pm, distance 127 miles. On the way here Dannie was so bad that we were afraid that we would have to stop at Chicago, but before we got quite here he got better and we concluded to go on. It rained when we got to Chicago. Left Chicago at $5.15 (sic) p.m. Got a sleeping car but had very little sleep. WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 21, 1868 Took breakfast at Alliance. Dannie feels tolerable well this morning. It is raining. Got to Pittsburg at 11 a.m. Raining. Left in short time for Harrisburg. Got to Harrisburg at 9 p.m. Dannie perfectly tired out. We had a very unpleasant ride from Pittsburg here on a/c of him. He was very glad when we got to our room at the Hotel U.S. He hates the cars. I would never take such a trip again with a small child. Stayed at the U.S. Hotel Harrisburg all night. Had a nice room and fire. THURSDAY, OCTOBER 22, 1868 Left Harrisburg this morning at 7:20 for York. Got to York at 9. Dannie don't look well. His bowels are very bad. Stayed at Kate's. Cloudy day, cold. Met George Kauffelt, Charley Smith & George Eberts in York. They told me that Cal Beverson was dead. Got home in eve, found all right and a good fire in kitchen. Am glad we are home. Jim Shenberger was here in eve. FRIDAY, OCTOBER 23, 1868 Went out home in afternoon for Cordie & Harry. Found all well and pleased to see me. Painters just finishing painting summer kitchen. Walked home. Nice day. Sloat finished husking corn today. Lumber business has been fair while I was gone. SATURDAY, OCTOBER 24, 1868 Was in office in forenoon. Afternoon home. Dannie has catarrh fever. Nice day. The Bridge all up except about one span and a half. SUNDAY, OCTOBER 25, 1868 Was out home today. Nice day. Found all well and pleased. Kitchen is about finished. Dannie is still sick with fever. Wrote three letters to paper while West, one for The York Pennsylvanian and two for The Star. All were published. MONDAY, OCTOBER 26, 1868 Left home at 9 o'clock for Williamsport. We got a girl this morning --- Rebecca Hetseith. Dannie is still sick. Cordie & Harry commenced going to school. Fair from here to Williamsport 4.20. Got to W at 7 p.m. Seen Frank Mann. This place is growing fast. TUESDAY, OCTOBER 27, 1868 Was around the sawmills today, looking around for some lumber. Did not buy any. Cold day. Lumber is still high. Think I'll buy from Culver & Barber & c. WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 28, 1868 Bout sash plank lath filling & c. from Culver & Barber. 4/4 from Starkweather & Munson at $23 per. Is tolerable nice day. Mr. Merriman wants me to buy a third interest in a mill. THURSDAY, OCTOBER 29, 1868 Was waiting on the Boat to come, Lehman & Weltzhoffer. They came at six p.m. I left at 9 p.m. for home. Paid boarding $8.00. Fair to York $4.20. FRIDAY, OCTOBER 30, 1868 Got to York this morning at four o'clock. Traveled all night, got home at 7 a.m. Found all tolerable well. Dannie is better. Was at the office part of day. Nice day. SATURDAY, OCTOBER 31, 1868 Was in town all day. Not doing much. Rained in eve. Very stormy Halloween. All well, except cold. SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 1, 1868 Was in house all day. Disagreeable day. Snowed a little and rained the balance of the day. MONDAY, NOVEMBER 2, 1868 Stoner commenced boarding here again. Cold windy day. The carpenters are putting up the last span of the bridge. TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 3, 1868 Was in town all day. Election day. Day passed of very quiet in this place. Grant's majority at this box is nine, a gain of three over last election. Was up till 12 o'clock to hear of the returns. In-coming news are that Grant is elected by a large majority. Republicans jubilant, Cops in their holes. WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 4, 1868 In town all day. Election news good. Grant is certainly elected by large majorities. Not much doing today. Nice day. Money is getting tight. THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 5, 1868 Was in town all day. Nice day. Not doing much. Budding, Shenberger & self are getting up a salt river ticket. Loadened a car today. FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 6, 1868 In town in forenoon. After noon George Kauffelt & self were out gunning. We brought carriage & horse in. I shot four Rabbits. Pleasant day, all well. Ferd Kauffelt here serving. Paid Newcomer bot & stev (sic) Bill, $13.25 in full. SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 7, 1868 Was in town all day. Nice day. Boat Load of lumber came late in eve. SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 8, 1868 Was at home in forenoon. After noon drove Mary, Dannie & Harry out home. Very warm day. All well except Cordie. She is not quite well. MONDAY, NOVEMBER 9, 1868 Was in town all day. Very pleasant. Paid for unloading boat, $18.00. TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 10, 1868 In town all day. Not doing much. Got all the lumber out of boat. Not well satisfied with it. Very warm. WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 11, 1868 Was fixing up around the house in forenoon. After noon went to Columbia to get a music book for Cordie. She is taking lessons on the piano. Gave Bill Levergood $10.00 on shoe a/c. THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 12, 1868 Was out home today. Killed small beef and hog. Cold, windy day. Brought my share of the meat in in the afternoon. FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 13, 1868 Was around the house the best part of day. Made sausage and cut up the meat. Had George Budding. Tolerable nice day. Bentz was here tuning the piano. Paid him $3.00. River is over McConkey's wharf. SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 14, 1868 Was in town all day. Pleasant day, Indian summer. Renewed a Note in Bank of $300. Paid $50 on it. Rcd my dividend on Bank Stock, $110.00. Dr. Burg and wife were here today. SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 15, 1868 Was in town all day. In church in evening. Pleasant day. MONDAY, NOVEMBER 16, 1868 Was at York today. Went up to collect some money. Cloudy day. Money scarce and hard to get. Bank don't discount any money. TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 17, 1868 Loadened a car today. Cloudy day, cold. Commenced warming late in afternoon. Paid My School Tax, $21.40. Gave out Note to Culver & Barber for 90 days, $1000. WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 18, 1868 Was in town all day. Not much doing. All well. I have a bad cough and pain on my left breast. Had it now about 5 years. John Fitz is possibly supposed he has consumption. Was in to see him today. He has a bad cough. Paid my Bounty Tax today, $39.10. THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 19, 1868 Pleasant day. Sam'l Kauffelt & self were out Rabbit shooting today. Seen only two and I shot them. All kinds of game is very scarce. FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 20, 1868 Was in town all day, at home all eve. Rained and very disagreeable. Snow mixed with rain. Paid $15.00 towards getting a Steam Fire Engine for Columbia. SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 21, 1868 Stoner bought a small Hemlock Raft. River up but not very high. Cold & cloudy. Paid $13.00 per m. for Raft & half expenses. SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 22, 1868 Harry & self were out at Rude Strickler's for dinner. Intended going out home when we left home but it got too cold and disagreeable. Snow storms come up there. We did not go. Come home soon after dinner. MONDAY, NOVEMBER 23, 1868 Had Earache all day. Father brought walnuts in for little ones. Took Cordie out with him. Cold, rough day. Not doing much. TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 24, 1868 Was in town all day, had earache all day. Nice day. Boatload of lumber came, also raft of Hemlock commenced drawing today. Mr. Lane came in from the West. Paid 1.80 on his lumber. WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 25, 1868 Was in town all day. Rained. All well. THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 26, 1868 Thanksgiving Day, by George. In town all day, not doing much. Pleasant day, a little cool. All well. FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 27, 1868 Was in town all day. Not doing much. Very pleasant day. Father took Harry out home. All Well. River pretty well up. Carpenters putting up the Arch on the first Span on this side of the bridge. Floor all laid and guard stationed to keep people from crossing. SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 28, 1868 Mr. Wm S. Lloyd & Leber & self were out after Rabbits. I shot one. That was all we got. Pleasant day, warm. Gave out Note for 4 months, H. Roff. SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 29, 1868 Was at home in house nearly all day. Cold, windy day. All well. Cordie and Harry out home. Mr. Lane preached today. MONDAY, NOVEMBER 30, 1868 Was out home in forenoon. Drove out. Brought Cordie & Harry home. Brought a Turkey in. Cold day. Got a letter from Lewis Thomas in the Morning that his smallest child was dead. TUESDAY, DECEMBER 1, 1868 Was in town all day, not doing anything. Mary & Mirt went to York this morning. Cloudy day. Had a little snow on the ground this morning. Hivner is piling Raft and Boat Lumber. Times dull and Money tight. The Columbia Bridge was crossed by pedestrians Oct 29 --- but was not ready for people to cross. WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 2, 1868 Cold cloudy morning. A few snow flakes flying. Boats still running. Wrightsville is improving slowly. York has improved much this summer. One or two hundred houses have been put up --- all fancy. Stocks don't pay & very seldom stock companies. Lumber business is a good business if properly managed. But the Farmer is the most independent man of all. All well. THURSDAY, DECEMBER 3, 1868 Was in town all day. Father was in this morning. Cloudy and cold, but so far no mush ice. Great trouble to get Harry to go to school. He don't like to go and he is such a puny consumptious-looking boy that I don't like to be too harsh. Dannie is the stoutest of them all. FRIDAY, DECEMBER 4, 1868 Cold cloudy day. Looks as if it might snow every minute. Mr. John Lane & family left for good today. Sent notes to Starkweather & co & Barber & co. In town all day. Got from Wm Thomson $6 rent for small lot. Commenced snowing in earnest late in afternoon. Got keg of beer. SATURDAY, DECEMBER 5, 1868 Five inches of snow this morning. Not very cold. First snow of the season. Cloudy all day. Snow melting. In office best part of day. SUNDAY, DECEMBER 6, 1868 Had a turkey for supper. Tolerable nice day. Slushy. All well. At home best part of day. MONDAY, DECEMBER 7, 1868 Snowed very fast this morning. Commenced about 5 o'clock afternoon and part of forenoon. It rained fast. Mercury at 40. Snowed about three inches today. Very slushy and disagreeable outdoors. TUESDAY, DECEMBER 8, 1868 Was at York today. Had Harry and Cordie up. Cold, windy day. Bout two barrels apples at $6 per bar. 10 lbs Raisins, cars for Harry & a doll for Cordie, each a pair of Gumshoes. Cost me about $30.00. Got some things of Getz for a Christmas tree. All well. WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 9, 1868 Cold and windy last night. Mercury below 30. Mush ice running. Steam. Can't take any teams across, only passengers. Mercury below thirty at noon and getting colder. Miller teams could not cross today. Paid $2.50 subscribtion to Godey. Loadened a car for J. L. Getz. THURSDAY, DECEMBER 10, 1868 Mercury below 20. River closed. Passengers go across on the bridge, are charged 15 cts. Father was in today. Hivner is still piling Boat Lumber. FRIDAY, DECEMBER 11, 1868 Mercury below twenty this morning. Cloudy morning. Mr. Starkweather was here yesterday afternoon. Cold and cloudy. Persons walked halfway across the river today on the ice. Hivner finished piling Boat Lumber today, has a few thousand feet of Raft Lumber to pile yet. Apples are six dollars a barrel. Sleighing not good. A few sleighs in town today. Think we will have plenty of snow in a few days. All well. SATURDAY, DECEMBER 12, 1868 Was in town all day. Clear day but cold. Mercury below 20. People walking across the bridge and the (Rules of the Co?)5. About 4 inches of snow on the ground but no sleighing. River closed. All well. Sunday, December 13, 1868 Was in town all day, not doing much. Cloudy day. Looks for snow or . . . The foregoing is a mistake. I was out home today. Walked out. Tolerable nice day. Found all well. Was there for dinner, home for supper, in church in eve. All well. MONDAY, DECEMBER 14, 1868 Was around town all day, out at bank in afternoon. Harry & self for Mass and a Chrismass tree. Cloudy but not very cold. Paid 5.00 in Building Association. All well, not much doing. TUESDAY, DECEMBER 15, 1868 In town all day, not doing anything. Rented shore lots again, of J. Huber for one year for $385.00. Pleasant day. One horse wagons drove across the ice. All well. WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 16, 1868 In town all day. Rain, sleet & snow all day. C. Dosch was here for dinner and best part of afternoon. Mary was baking cakes. All well. People crossing the ice, but not very cold. THURSDAY, DECEMBER 17, 1868 Was out home today. Harry & self drove out in sleigh. Sleighing poor. Brought two turkeys in, one for Sam Kauffelt. Nice clear day, not cold. Drove out without overcoat. All well. Father was in. Got a front quarter of beef from D. L. Lehman at 12 cts. FRIDAY, DECEMBER 18, 1868 Butchered today, killed two hogs. Had G. Budding to kill for me. Hogs weighted 407 lbs. Were done soon after dinner. Nice day, not cold. Commenced getting earache in eve. SATURDAY, DECEMBER 19, 1868 Was in town all day. Pleasant day. Had very little sleep last night on a/c of earache. Have it all day. Bad cold in my breast & head. SUNDAY, DECEMBER 20, 1868 Was in town all day. Cold damp day. Dannie was very bad today. He has catarrh fever and we could not get the oil to operate for some time. He got better late in the eve. Rain part of day. Some people still crossing the ice. MONDAY, DECEMBER 21, 1868 Dannie is better today. Revt. Mr. Weaver got my horse & carriage today to go to a funeral. Jacob Small died this morning or last night. People crossing the ice fore part of the day. Looked like a spring morning, clear and warm, afternoon cloudy. I have earache. Got a letter from Bahn. TUESDAY, DECEMBER 22, 1868 In town best part of day, not doing anything. Cloudy but not very cold. Have still earache. Dannie is getting better. Ice still on the river but seen no one cross today. Money tight. WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 23, 1868 Was at York in forenoon. Bought a gold chain and breast pin attached for wife Christmass gift, cost $36.00. Cold, rough day. All well. Mary baking cakes. No sleighing. People crossing ice. THURSDAY, DECEMBER 24, 1868 Was in town all day fixing up Christmass tree. Cold day. Father was in town. People crossing on the ice and bridge. All well. Railroad co. safe in More's office was broke open last night and about $20 & some sausage obtained. Mary down street in eve. Mercury at about 20. Was at home nearly all eve fixing up tree. Killed turkey for tomorrow. FRIDAY, DECEMBER 25, 1868 Christmas. Was at house best part of day. Had turkey for dinner. Nobody here to help to eat it. Mercury at about twenty all day. Cloudy some parts of day, other times sun shone. Columbians had Fire Engine over in afternoon. A quiet day outside of that. A good many Folks called during the day to see our Christmas tree. All well. Gave Mary gold chain as present. SATURDAY, DECEMBER 26, 1868 Was in town all day doing nothing. All well. Cold day. George Schenberger & wife were here in eve. 60 shares of Bank Stock of this Bank sold today at $115 and a little over. SUNDAY, DECEMBER 27, 1868 Sunday. Was at house all day. Cloudy all day. Snowed a very little in the morning, got warmer towards eve. Mercury at 38. All well. Not in church today. Harry and Cordie at sunday school. MONDAY, DECEMBER 28, 1868 Was in town all day. Very nice day, mercury at 40. Clear and warm. Sleighs running across the ice. Regular spring day. All well. TUESDAY, DECEMBER 29, 1868 Was in town all day, nothing doing. Not very cold. Cloudy and a little rain. Sleighs still running across the ice. Money very tight. Banks don't discount any. All well. WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 30, 1868 Was in town all day. Cloudy and snowed a little in afternoon. Not doing anything. Rented shore lots from Hubler. Harry is getting the chicken pox. Not very cold. Parties filling their ice houses in town. Ice about six inches thick. THURSDAY, DECEMBER 31, 1868 Was in town all day. Rained part of day. Nothing doing. Not very cold. People still crossing on the ice. Our sales this year amt to $21,000. At home nearly all eve. Harry is not well. Dannie has bowel complaint & fever, teething. Mary has toothache. I have been well. Have very little pain on my breast at present. Weigh 164 lbs today. Made some money this year. Times dull and money scarce. Gold at $34 premium. So ends the year 1868. John Stoner Beidler